The NFL season has surpassed the halfway point with several teams and players that surprised fans in the process! One such player is Travis Etienne Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars—the former Clemson Tigers running back drafted in the first round of the 2021 draft.
After suffering a Lisfranc injury in the preseason that ended his initial rookie campaign and a year of rehabbing, Etienne Jr. made awaited his debut in the 2022 season and hasn’t disappointed.
Through the nine games played Etienne Jr., has rushed for 680 yards, good enough for fifth in the NFL. He has also made a mark on the team led by Trevor Lawrence, and as a result, his rookie cards are picking up traction.
So, let’s take a peek at the five best-looking Travis Etienne Jr. cards, and what makes them so eye-catching.
2021 Panini Mosaic #314
Mosaic is known for flash and sparkle, and Etienne’s teal and black complement the silver and teal background well. Mosaic also always makes the rookie card logo noticeable but not intrusive, which is nice. Overall, the design is clean, and the picture a great action shot.
Most collectors can probably agree that in-game pictures are better than posed photos, and pro uniforms beat college uniforms too. This is not always the case, but these teal jerseys look a lot better on this card than the bright orange college Clemson would.
Panini Mosaic is one of the premier football card products, and rookie cards for this set always rank at the top of lists.
2021 Panini Prestige Rookie Portraits RP-22
2021 Panini Prestige – Rookie Portraits #RP-22 – Travis Etienne Jr.
Not an action shot, but with a name like “portraits” that’s probably expected—and, an incredible card all the same! As mentioned – usually – college uniforms are less desirable for cards, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t desirable at all.
What makes this card stand out is the colors and background—the light blue, purple, and orange blend together well, and the different shades make for a quality background. While the shot on its own may not make for an eye-catching piece, it is an amazing card when all of the elements come together.
2021 Donruss Clearly Gridiron Marvels GM-15
One of the rarer cards on the list is the Gridiron Marvels, thanks to the popping comic book design that has really caught on over the years. This is one of the fewer rookie cards where Etienne Jr. wears a white uniform instead of teal, and the rookie card logo below the Jacksonville Jaguars’ design goes well with the overall look and feel of the card.
2021 Panini Draft Picks Color Blast CB-19
Color Blasts cards are typically case hits, which means they’re relatively rare and valuable. And to go along with it, this piece is one of the more beautiful Etienne Jr. cards out there.
Again, the teal uniforms are either hit or miss. The white background of the card makes the uniform stand out along with the teal rookie logo.
What makes this card vibrant, though, is the beautiful colors in the background—it’s a color blast after all. Seemingly the whole rainbow meshes behind Etienne, and it makes for a terrific card.
Sometimes simple is best, but other times the flashy, colorful designs make a card over-the-top-amazing.
2021 Panini Prizm Stained Glass SG-9
Speaking of colors, A super short print tops the list for best Travis Etienne Jr. rookie cards.
Obviously, a rare, expensive card, but so worth it for anyone invested in the former Clemson product.The amount of color and elegance in this card is incredible–it is quite simply the most beautiful rookie card of Etienne Jr.
Again, a teal uniform and a teal background might be too much for some, but Panini stole the show with this design. And anything replicating stained glass is sure to illuminate a lot of colors. The added arch behind Etienne Jr. that reflects more of the jersey match Jaguar colors gives it an extra element of beauty.
As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see what happens in Etienne Jr.’s inaugural season, and in his career. This may be the best opportunity to buy low on the explosive back, but as you know, running back values can plummet as quickly as they rise.
